Atlantic Fisherman: Furniture Maker: Solo Sailor:
Name: Pat Lawless
Born:May 1st 1956
Nationality: Irish
Country of entry: Ireland
Race: GGR 2026
Boat: Saltram Saga 36
I grew up in a loving Limerick family and trained as a furniture maker in my father’s business.
On the river Shannon I sailed dinghies, keel boats and then many more miles with Sail-Training Ireland at sea.
I am 43 years married to the lovely Rita Geoghegan and we have four fabulous children and two mighty grandchildren.
A few months before the start of the GGR 2022 my wife Rita was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
During my involvement in GGR we will be fundraising and promoting awareness for Parkinson’s Ireland.
We live in Ballyferriter, Co Kerry (The Kingdom) which is the most westerly village in Europe. I spent more than 20 years as a full time fisherman off the west coast of Ireland, and I have experienced some wild weather out there in my time.
This Golden Globe Race is a fantastic challenge, and an unbelievable adventure. Unfortunately I had to retire from the 2022 race when my self steering failed 1200 nautical miles West of Cape Town. It would have been reckless to go on without it. After repairs, with a heavy heart I sailed Green Rebel back home to Ireland. I now have a more driving desire than ever to try and win the GGR26.
Between the original dream and unfinished business my second campaign in the GGR will be stronger then ever. The Aries self-steering will be used again and a second Aires unit on board as a spare.
After GGR22 there are some modifications to be made on the Saltram Saga 36. A slight change to the rigging, remove the fire, new sails, this time make sure the weather fax is working properly, etc. The 2026 Golden Globe Race is the fourth edition, a Solo, non-stop, unassisted round the world race.
Depart, Les Sables d'Olonne, France on September 6th 2026 and sail solo, non-stop around the world via the five great capes and back to Les Sables d'Olonne.
Nine months at sea alone in a small boat (GREEN REBEL) it is the longest, loneliest sporting event in the World. It will entail stepping back to the Golden Age of solo sailing, with no modern technology.
Entrants are limited to sailing similar yachts and equipment to that which was available to Sir Robin Knox Johston in the 1968 race. That means sailing without modern technology or the benefit of satellite-based navigation aids.
I will sail the race in the spirit of my father (also Pat) who, in 1996, at the age of 70 got back to Ireland after sailing solo around the world; also Edward Conor Marshall O’Brien, who in 1923 was the first skipper to take a small boat around the world via the three great southern capes. Two great Limerick sailors.
